Bathroom fixture



Feb. 3, H KARP BATHROOM FIXTURE Filed July 28, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l TTOIPNE Y H. KARP BATHROOM FIXTURE Feb. 3, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 28, 1949 4 10u @a /f e a z 4 fwlllm 4`// ,H| ,.w-n ,m/M \..Y .INI is. ...l-mm uw -E -,m|m.@A: m Vl/Vv o4o9a rJ f e. v e0# '..v J1/mo" QM, ,h Jmg .M mm. al a wif 4 v 7% v/f u z l S\ v mn m 1 mw W ma M WK m n kw. Y B /m 2 Z atented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATHROOM FIXTURE Harry Karp,.Atlantic Beach, N. Y.

Application July 28, 1949, Serial No. 107,308

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bathroom xtures and particularly to an improved compact personal hygiene device that is concealed from View When not in use.

This invention may be brieiiy described as an improved compact bathroom appliance, incorporated into a bathroom xture having a water drainage system, for providing an extensible, uniform flow supply of temperature regulatable, medicament treated water for douche, enema, or other personal hygiene purposes, together with an integral concealed receptacle to contain the retracted. device when not in use.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved personal hygiene device.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved bathroom appliance including an extensible and retractible conveyer for a supply of water for personal hygiene purposes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a personal hygiene device including means for supplying a uniform flow of temperature regulated water.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved personal hygiene device having a water conveying member coiled on a concealed tensioned reel for automatic retraction when not in use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved personal hygiene device including means for introducing medicaments into the flow of water.

Another object of this invention is the provision o1" an improved personal hygiene device permanently incorporated into a bathroom ixture having a water drainage system.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a readily available personal hygiene device incorporated into a bathroom fixture having a Water drainage system, and which, when not in use, will be concealed from View.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved personal hygiene device having a nozzle movably mounted at the terminus of the Water conveying apparatus.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the incorporation and positioning of the invention in a bathroom fixture.

Fig. 2 shows the incorporation and positioning of the invention in another bathroom xture.

Fig. 3 is a side View, partially in section, of the invention as incorporated into the bathroom fixture shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view taken along line 4--lIy of Fig. 3.

In Figs. 3 and 4, which are not drawn to scale for the purposes of clarity and ease of explanation, the improved personal hygiene device is shown as incorporated into a Water closet adjacent a bathroom xture of the type generally illustrated in Fig. l. The water closet shown may be of a generally conventional shape and the walls I0 and I2 thereof, cooperating with the base section I4 to form a generally rectangular water reservoir. The Water closet is formed of a suitable vitreous material as conventionally utilized for bathroom fixtures of this type and retains a supply of water I6 available for use in the adjacent bathroom fixture.

A supply of water for the personal hygiene device may be suitably introduced into the water reservoir through the base section I4 by a hot water supply pipe I3 and a cold water supply pipe 20. A suitable water tightjoint at the junction of the pipes I8 and 20 and the base section I4 of the water closet may be formed by the packing members 22 being secured in watertightengagement against the surfaces of the base section I4 by the washers 24 and nuts 26 threadedly mounted on the pipes. Each of the water supply pipes may be provided with a suitable check valve or vacuum breaking valve, as indicated at 2l, or water may be supplied to the device from open tanks.

The hot and cold water supply pipes I8 and 20 extend upwardly inside the water reservoir and enter a mixing chamber 28, positioned above the water in the reservoir, through suitable Watertight joints, such as that shown at 30. The pipes I8 and 20 are then turned and connected to a mixing valve member 32. The mixing valve 32 is of a conventional construction of the type commonly utilized in shower installations and the like. The mixing valve 30 may be set to provide any desired water temperature or may completely close 01T the hot and cold Water supplies. The valve member 32 is provided with a common outlet spigot 34 which is disposed within and introduces the Water into the mixing chamber 28.

The mixing chamber 28 provides an efficient receptacle wherein the mixed hot and cold water, introduced therein through the mixing valve 32, may reach a temperature equilibrium and in which any surging due to variations of the water pressures in the pipes I3 and 20 may be eliminated.

Disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the mixing chamber 28 is an outlet 36 to which is connected a suitable pipe or hose 38 by the cou- 3 pling member 40. The hose 38 conveys the liquid from the mixing chamber 28 and introduces it into the hollow portion 42 of the shaft 44.

The lower end of the shaft 44 is provided with a flange 46 which abuts and is supported by a supporting member 48 having a shaft encompassing terminal portion 50. Beneath the flange 46 and on the portion of the shaft 44 that extends through the terminal portion 50, the shaft is threadedly engaged and secured by the locking nut 52.' The locking nut 52, the terminal portion 50 and the flange 46 cooperate to mount the shaft 44 securely in an upright position. The supporting member 48 is provided with a flanged mounting 54 which may be suitably affixed to the rear wall I of the water closet above the water I6 contained therein.

The hollow portion 42 of the shaft 44 is closed at its lower end by a plug 55 threadedly engaged with the terminus of J the shaft. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 44 and supported by an abutment 56 thereon is a reel 58. The hollow portion 42 of the shaft 44 extends upwardly past the abutment 56 seating the reel 50 and is provided at its terminus with a plurality of openings, such as 60, through the shaft 44. Abutting the openings 60 in the shaft 44 is an annular chamber 62 formed by the webs 64 and 66 which engage the periphery of the shaft 44. Containedwithin these webs 64 and 65 are packing members 68 to prevent leakage of liquid from the chamber 62 between the shaft 44 and the webs 64 and 66. The chamber 62 is provided with an opening 10 which connects said chamber with an elongated annular chamber 'I2 formed by the wall members '|4 and 16 of the reel 58. The elongated chamber '|2 is provided with an outlet '|8 in the lower portion thereof. Coupled to the outlet 'I8 through a coupling member 80 is one end of a length of exible hose 82 coiled upon the reel 58. The upper extremity of the shaft 44 supports a positioning plate 84 having an abutment 86 on the periphery thereof which engages the 'wall member 16 of the reel 58 and positions the reel thereby.

The above described construction provides for a continuous transfer of Water from the mixing chamber 28 tothe hose 82A coiled upon the reel 58, while the reel 58 is rotating and irrespective of the rotative position of the reel 58 upon the shaft 44. In summary, the water owsfrom themixing chamber 28 to the hollow portion 42 of the shaft 44 through the connecting member 38, the water iiows from the hollow portion 42, through the plurality of openings such as 60 into the small an-y nularchamber 62, from there through the opening 0 into the elongated chamber 'l2 and from thence to the hose 82 through the outlet '|8.

Associated with the reelf'member 58 is a coil spring 88 contained in the space between the wall 16 and the shaft 44 between the positioning plate 84 and the upper web 64. One end of the spring is secured to the reel 58 and the other end thereof to the shaft 44 so as to automatically rewind the hose 82 on the reel 58 after extension therefrom.

The forward end 00 of the hose 82 is attached, in an expanded fitting, to a rigid member 82.. The rigid member 92 is slidably contained within a sleeve 04. The sleeve 94 traverses vthe mixing chamber 28 and is secured in position by a flange 96 outwardly abutting the wall portion 98 at one end and a locking nut |00 threadedly engaging the opposite end adjacent the outer surface of the mixing chamber 28. The joints between the sleeve member 94 and the mixing chamber 28 are ysuitably constructed as to prevent leakage.v of

4 liquid therefrom and includes suitable packing, such as |02. The sleeve 94 is sized to permit the hose 82 to pass therethrough.

The rigid member 92 terminates in a spherically shaped socket |04. Adjacent the socket |04 is a gate valve |06 for stopping the flow of water through the member 82. The valve |06 is normally maintained in the open position by the spring |08. An abutment ||0 is also provided in the rigid member 92 and cooperates with the exterior of the iiange 96 on the sleeve 94 to limit the movement of the rigid member 92 therein.

Cooperating with the socket |04 is a connecting member |2 having one spherically shaped end |4 and one straight externally threaded end I6. The spherically shaped end ||4 cooperates with the socket` |04 to form a globe type or spherical joint for permitting relative motion therebetween.

Connected in removable threaded engagement with the threaded end portion ||6 is a nozzle ||8. Included in the. nozzle HIL-illustrated in the drawings, is an enlarged chamber |20 for medicaments, such as salts or crystals of a medici'- nal nature. The chamber |20 is provided with a strainer |22 or screen to prevent the passage of undissolved medicament therethrough. The chamber |20 is also provided with an opening |26 for the introduction of the medicaments therein, said opening being provided with a removable plug |28.

Although the drawing illustrates a nozzle suitable for douche purposes, it is Within the contemplation of the invention to utilize other nozzles for other purposes, such as a nozzle to provide a spray for rinsing the hair after washing, etc.

The nozzle 8 and the members adjacently associated therewith are disposed within a recessed receptacle |30 in the front wall l2 of the water closet. The recess is sized to also contain a handle |32 for manually manipulating the mixing valve 32 to adjust the water temperature. The recessed receptacle |38 is integrally formed with the water closet. The receptacle |38- is provided with a cover1 plate |34 to conceal the members contained therein.

When the improved personal hygiene device described above '1s to be used, the cover |34 is opened and the nozzle I8 withdrawn therefrom. The nozzle ||8 may be extended outwardly from the receptacle |30 through a distance limited by the length of the hose 38 upon the reelA 58. The spring 88 incorporated in the reel 58 will automatically rewind the hose 82 thereon and will retract the nozzle ||8 and the members adjacently associated therewith into the lposition illustrated in Fig. 3. Returning the cover |34 to its closed position removes the device from sight.

Fig. l illustrates the positioning and incorporation of the above described device into a water closet |36 adjacent a bathroom fixture, such as the commode |38. All that may be externally ascertained is a cover member |40, which will be of a color and surface nish simllar to that of the water closet |36.

Fig. 2 illustrates the positioning and incorporation of the above described device into another type of bathroom fixture, such as the bathtube |42. As in the case of Fig. l above, all that may beexternally ascertained is a cover member |44 which will be of a color and surface finish similar to that of the bathtube |42.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. In combination with a bathroom fixture having a water drainage system, a concealed bathroom appliance comprising, a Yrecessed re'- ceptacle embedded in the vsurface of said xture, a Water mixing chamber disposed adjacent said receptacle and within said iixture, a hot Water supply and a cold water supply connected to said mixing chamber, valve means intermediate said chamber and said hot and cold water supply for proportioning the amounts of hot and cold water introduced into said chamber, manual control means for said valve means contained within said receptacle, a reel member disposed within said fixture, a length of exible tubing coiled upon said reel member having its forward end adapted to be withdrawn from said reel member and retracted thereto, tensioning means included in said reel member for rewinding the tubing thereon and for maintaining tension on the tubing when withdrawn from said reel member, water passage means connecting said chamber and said tubing, nozzle means removably secured to the forward end of the tubing and positionable in said receptacle, passage means through said fixture connecting said receptacle with the interior of said fixture for movement of said tubing therethrough, and a manually displaceable closure member mounted on the surface of said fixture adjacent said receptacle for covering said recessed receptacle when said appliance is not in use.

2. 'I'he appliance in accordance with claim 1 wherein said removably secured nozzle means includes a nozzle member, a mounting member for said nozzle member connected to the forward end of said tubing, and a rotatable joint intermediate said nozzle member and mounting member for permitting movement of said nozzle member relative to said mounting member.

3. The appliance in accordance with claim 1 including a medicament chamber contained within said nozzle means and disposed in the path of the water ow therethrough and straining means cooperating therewith to prevent undesired entrainment of undissolved medicament in said water flow.

HARRY KARP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Cross-Connections in Plumbing Systems, U. S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards Research Paper RP1086, April 1938. 

